Camping options near Anoka provide access to the Mississippi and Rum rivers with average summer temperatures of 80°F and winter lows around 10°F. The northern suburbs of Minneapolis contain several regional parks and campgrounds within a 30-minute drive of downtown Anoka, offering glamping options alongside traditional campsites in predominantly oak and maple forests.
What to do
Water activities on the Rum River: Country Camping Tent & RV Park on the Rum River offers tubing, canoeing, and swimming opportunities with a clean sandy riverbed. "The river is very clean and sandy bottom," notes a visitor, adding that it's "a nice option for you to get camping even if you are a state-park-loving metro dweller."
Wildlife viewing: Lake Maria State Park provides excellent wildlife observation opportunities during early morning and dusk hours. A camper shared, "We saw pileated woodpeckers, red squirrels, and a chorus of chorus frogs. Nature feels close here — in the best way."
Disc golf adventures: Bunker Hills Regional Park features a highly-rated disc golf course accessible to campers. One visitor mentioned, "Close to a top 10 disc golf course if that's your thing (it's ours)," while another added it was "something for everyone here" with "several pavilions with grills, a few playgrounds and plenty of trails both paved and unpaved."
Stargazing opportunities: Wild River State Park has a designated star gazing area away from city light pollution. A camper noted, "It's a great place to star gaze" and another mentioned "watching the full moon rise" during their stay.
What campers like
Private campsite spacing: Baker Campground receives praise for its site layout. A camper noted, "The sites are good sized, and the bathroom/showers are great." Another explained the campground is "a nice distance from the cities, not too far" making it perfect for weekend trips.
Clean facilities: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park maintains well-kept restrooms and shower facilities. Visitors appreciate that "the check in staff was friendly, helpful and efficient" and that there's "a gorgeous beach area with tables, a pavilion, changing rooms and a well equipped playground."
Year-round accessibility: Multiple campgrounds remain open during winter months, with some offering winter-specific activities. A winter camper at Wild River State Park reported, "We snowshoed and skied. I really enjoyed the snowshoe hike along the St Croix River and watched the full moon rise. The ski trails were groomed and there were miles of trails."
Proximity to urban amenities: Minneapolis Northwest KOA provides camping close to city conveniences. A camper mentioned, "There are a few restaurants around that deliver" and another appreciated that despite being close to urban areas, some tent sites are "spacious and private-surrounded on 3 sides by trees."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Popular weekends book quickly at regional parks, especially for premium sites. A visitor to Baker Campground advised, "You'll need to book for at least two nights and book as soon as you can. There are 200 sites but on the July weekend we stayed, I'd say almost all of them were booked."
Bug seasons: Minnesota's humid summers bring mosquitoes and black flies, particularly in wooded areas. A Lake Maria State Park camper warned, "The black flies were dive bombing the car like a scene from Armageddon" and recommended fall visits to avoid peak bug season.
Site selection strategies: Request specific site features when booking. At Minneapolis Northwest KOA, a camper learned, "if you wanted one with trees I needed to put a note on my reservation. He also suggested calling the office and requesting a site with trees."
Additional fees: Some parks charge entrance fees separate from camping fees. At Bunker Hills, "Your reservation fee does NOT include the daily parks fee of 7 dollars just FYI."
Tips for camping with families
Waterpark access: Bunker Hills offers a unique combination of camping and waterpark fun. A camper shared, "The waterpark is a blast and we were able to find discount passes online," while another mentioned it has "a water park with a wave pool."
Kid-friendly campgrounds: Country Camping Tent & RV Park provides numerous family amenities. A recent visitor with children wrote, "great playground and heated pool the spaces were well kept and spaced apart 10-10 would most defiantly go again! A ton for the kids to do!"
Educational opportunities: Multiple parks offer interpretive centers and ranger programs. A visitor to Crow Hassan Park Reserve shared it's "great for birding and tons of beautiful trails" where families can learn about local ecosystems.
Accessible hiking options: Baker Campground features trails suitable for various ages. A visitor noted, "With great fishing, playground, swimming, and biking trails very nearby, the kids were kept as busy as they wanted to be."
Tips from RVers
Site specifics: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes accommodates various RV sizes with different site configurations. A visitor mentioned there are "pull-through sites, back ups, 50 and 30 amp hook ups" available depending on your needs.
Seasonal considerations: Some full-hookup sites close during late fall and winter months. At Wild River State Park, a winter camper noted, "The campsite was plowed out and had a nice spot for the tent," but electric sites may be limited during winter.
Dump station locations: Several parks offer sanitary dump stations, though locations vary. At Baker Park, "The convenience of these amenities makes it easy to enjoy a longer stay without sacrificing comfort."
Power capacity: During peak summer heat, electrical systems may experience strain. One visitor noted, "Had one issue with power dropping so we had to pull the surge protector off then it was fine. Also very hot and humid so everyone was running AC to the max."
